African violet plant named Mexico City

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Mexico City, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its extra large growth habit (35-45 cm in diameter); large, star-shaped, dark purplish blue flowers with wavy petal tips; strong stems which curve toward the center to form a bouquet above the leaves; profuse flowering; very large, dark green, heart-shaped leaves; flowering 10-11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot, and by its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name Mexico City.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation O 4-1/31 and is a product of a plannedbreeding program. The cultivar was originated from a cross made by me inthe controlled breeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany.The female, or seed parent, was a cultivar designated 131. The male, orpollen parent, was a cultivar designated 800 bl.

Mexico City was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inHaffen, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leafcuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

Mexico City has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in a 15 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville,Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Mexico City, which in combinationdistinguish this african violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

1) Mexico City will grow as large as 35-45 cm in diameter.

2) Large star-shaped, dark purplish blue flowers with wavy petal tips.

3) Strong, wirelike and upright flower stems curving toward the center.

4) First flash of flowers forms a bouquet above the leaves.

5) Profuse flowering.

6) Each plant carries 10-12 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 11-13 and more flowers.

7) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

8) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot.

9) Seed capsules push slightly through.

10) Very large dark green, heart-shaped leaves.

11) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the pedunclewithout becoming infected by botrytis.

The new cultivar is most similar to Vienna, disclosed in U.S. plant Pat.No. 8,120. Similarities are the extra large growth habit and purplishblue color. However, Vienna has single and smaller blossoms as well asspear-shaped leaves whereas Mexico City has large, star-shaped blossomsand heart-shaped leaves.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar grown in a 15 cm pot. The colors appearing inthe photograph are as true as possible with color illustrations of thistype.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), except where general colorsof ordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 12 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. MexicoCity.

Parentage:

Male parent.--800 bl.

Female parent.--131.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 11 cm to 14 cm tall when grown in pots, and 35-45 cm indiameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Heart-shaped. Diameter: 80-90 mm wide and 90-105mm long. Texture: Velvety. Aspect: Hairy, shiny, slightly serrated.Veins: Upperside: visible; underside: well pronounced, light green topurplish red, shiny. Color (upperside): Yellow-green group 147 A anddarker. Color (underside): Greyed-purple group 186 C. Petiole: Strong,purplish brown, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Bell-shaped, 7-8 mm just before opening, light greenwith purplish blue touch. Sepals: Five (5). Color: Purplish brown.Calyx: Shape: Funnel-shaped. Aspect: Spear-shaped, hairy. Peduncle:Character: Strong upright, hairy. Color: Purplish brown. Individualflowers: Size: 50-55 mm. Shape: Star-shaped. Color (upperside): Betweenviolet group 88 A and violet-blue group 89 A. Under cooler temperaturesand more intensive lighting, the purplish blue tends to intensify. Color(underside): Violet group 88 A to B. Borne: Each flower stem carries11-13 and more flowers on strong, upright peduncles that are freestanding above the leaves, thereby forming a bouquet. Flowering habit:Flowers 10-11 weeks after planting an unrooted plantlet.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Five (5). Anthers: 5 composed of 10anther cells, seed capsule pushes slightly through. Filaments: Yellowishgreen with purplish blue at base, 4-5 mm long.

Styles: 8-9 mm long, purplish blue, base of ovary light green and hairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance.--Up to date, Mexico City has shown very goodresistance to all major violet diseases.

General observations

Mexico City is an attractive cultivar due to its extra large growthhabit. It is designed to be grown in a 15 cm pot (instead of the regular10 cm pot) and will grow as large as 35-45 cm in diameter. (The diametercan vary depending on how firmly the potting medium is compressed). Anice bouquet of flowers free standing above the leaves develops 10-11weeks after planting an unrooted plantlet. Each of the 10-12 and morestrong flower stems carries 11-13 and more large star-shaped, darkpurplish blue flowers with wavy petal tips contrasting nicely with thebright yellow anthers. The flowers are long-lasting and non-dropping.The bouquet is surrounded by very large, dark green, heart-shaped,slightly serrated leaves.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet plant namedMexico City, as described and illustrated, and particularlycharacterized by its extra large growth habit (35-45 cm in diameter);large, star-shaped, dark purplish blue flowers with wavy petal tips;strong stems which curve toward the center to form a bouquet above theleaves; profuse flowering; very large, dark green, heart-shaped leaves;flowering 10-11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot, and by its longlasting and non-dropping flowers.